Help! Page 2

Darkroom DVD
Q. There are videos and DVDs out on every subject. Do you know of a video/DVD
about setting up and starting a darkroom? A. T.
via Internet

A. The only video I know of that includes something about darkroom
layout is titled "The Darkroom" and is one of 15 VHS videos on various
aspects of photography offered by www.media-west.com. You can write them for
a brochure at Media West Home Video, PO Box 2849,Gearhart, OR 97138; (800) 888-8273
(US only), (503) 717-1125. The videos sell for $29.95 plus S&H but your
local library might have some of these instructional videos on their shelves
for loan. I have not heard of any DVDs on the subject.

3D Slide Viewer
Q. At our wedding 48 years ago we had the traditional wedding pictures taken
together with 35mm 3D slides. These slides were set in a plastic mount titled
Plastaslide and measured 4x11/2". The same image appears on both sides
of the Plastaslide. Our problem is that we no longer have the viewer. Is there
anything you can do to help us locate a viewer for these slides? Lou Tillchock
Long Island, NY

A. I have two two-lens stereo cameras from the 1950s that
I used to take color slides, which were mounted into dual cardboard mounts for
use in a viewer or projected. I never heard of the brand of plastic mount you
have, but there were many different mounts offered years ago. Here are a couple
of places you might check to determine whether they offer the viewer you seek:
Stereo World (a bimonthly publication), www.stereoview.org/ stereoworld.html;
and National Stereoscopic Association, PO Box 86708, Portland, OR 97286; www.stereoview.org.
I know it is difficult to locate labs to process and mount 3D slides today,
but I assume there should be some viewers available somewhere as there still
are a dedicated group of individuals working in this interesting old format.
If you cannot find a viewer and have some images you want to print, a local
professional lab should be able to make a reversal print of one of the two stereo
pair images on one slide.

A Note To The Lab
Q. I sometimes use either a Tiffen sepia fog or Cokin sepia filter. They each
have a very different effect, the Cokin being much darker. The problem is that
I don't live anywhere near a pro lab, or a good minilab, so I have to
use the send off (overnight) service at Wal-Mart, which actually does a good
job most of the time. But when I use sepia filters sometimes they do the prints
right and sometimes they don't. So I had to start putting in a note which
tells them what a sepia filter is and does, but I was told that the note confuses
them because they don't color correct during printing because the printing
machines don't automatically correct so they have to do it manually. Can
you please tell me how to explain to them (in a way that will not confuse them)
how to process color print film exposed through a sepia filter without taking
out or color correcting the sepia effect? James McElroy
Hanceville, AL

A. Basically I believe you are using your sepia filters properly
and exposing properly and the fault is primarily with the lab. Most printing
machines do automatically color correct for vastly different overall color balance,
such as you would obtain when using a sepia filter. My suggestion would be to
use the special instructions panel usually located on the front of the processing
envelope and put in bold print: "DO NOT COLOR CORRECT." Merely placing
a note inside the envelope might not be seen by the lab personnel, but writing
on the outside in the special instructions panel should be noticed. Finally,
if you ever are not happy with the prints from any roll of film, take the prints
back to the store and ask for reprints. Most reputable stores will do this,
especially if you explain that you are trying to achieve a special effect and
they have defeated the purpose of using the sepia or some other filter.

Copies Of Subminiature Negatives
Q. I have negatives taken on a Minolta 16 pocket camera (taken about 1972).
I would very much like to make copies of these negatives. Could you please find
the contact information for a photo business that can help me? I live in the
New York City metropolitan area in case there is a lab in that vicinity. Diane
via Internet

A. It is becoming increasingly difficult to locate places
to have printing or other lab work done on 16mm (subminiature) films. Try checking
www.subclub.org. If any readers have used any labs around the U.S.A. that still
do 16mm format work, we sure would like to get their name and address, as we
get frequent inquiries on this subject.

B&W On Color
Q. I've been a long-time subscriber to this wonderful magazine and now
I need your help. I'm looking for a black and white lab that will print
black and white negatives on color paper. One lab I had worked with was Pacific
Imaging Center. They used to make prints with different shades of blue, green,
red, etc.; a color variation "palette" to choose from one of my
negatives to determine my favorite tone and density. I recently tried to contact
them, but to no avail. Could you help me to contact them or find anyone with
similar services? Silvio J. Mayorga
Daly City, CA

A. I had not heard of the lab you once used and really don't
know of any lab specializing in the type of tinted or toned black and white
prints you seek. I looked through the current issue of Who's Who in Photo
Imaging Management which lists all member organizations and labs, but did not
find any Pacific Imaging Center listed. Have you tried contacting any of the
labs that advertise in our monthly "Photo Lab Showcase"? I found
several in the current (February 2005) issue that indicate they specialize in
black and white and digital printing, which leads me to believe they might be
able to provide the type of tinted prints you seek. They are: Horizons West
Imaging, 35400 Road P.3, Mancos, CO 81328, (970) 882-4008, www.HWI.com; Full
Spectrum, PO Box 82, Decorah, IA 52101, (563) 379-1515, www.fsprolab.com; and
The Darkroom, 9227 Reseda Blvd., Northridge, CA 91324, (800) 442-3873, www.darkroomlab.com.
Hopefully one or more of them can provide the type of specialized tint printing
of black and white negatives you seek. We are always pleased to hear from long-time
subscribers and to attempt to help solve their photographic problems.